Issued March 23, 2009
Partnership creates new opportunities for workers to organize, improve working conditions and raise standards
Statement from Edgar Romney, President, Workers United
"Yesterday, Workers United made history again with an affiliation with Service Employees International Union (SEIU) one of the most powerful, dynamic and vibrant labor organizations in the world.
"The agreement creates the Workers United Conference of SEIU. Through this affiliation, we make a big, strong union even bigger and stronger. And now a whole new group of workers in the garment, textile, laundry, distribution, food service and hospitality industries will be able to harness the incredible power of SEIU as they seek to improve their jobs and their lives. With this affiliation we will have the support of SEIU, and there is no question that we will be stronger together.
"Both unions share a history of not only transforming working conditions but also bringing change to entire industries. Nearly 100 years ago, the predecessor unions that became Workers United exposed sweatshops in the garment industry and rallied whole cities to demand improved conditions and safety for the workers. More recently, Workers United affiliates have transformed the commercial laundry industry organizing workers in many North American cities including in anti-union strongholds in the South and Southwest.
"Similarly, SEIU has transformed the property services industry through incredible international campaigns for janitorial and security workers.
"Unfortunately, hospitality workers have not witnessed a similar transformation of their industries outside of a few metropolitan areas. Though there are cities in the U.S. and Canada where a majority of workers in the high end, full service hotels are organized, millions of hotel, hospitality and gaming workers in other geographic areas and types of properties have been left to fend for themselves.
"Now, as these industries change and consolidate, property services workers and hospitality workers share many managers and owners. These changes demand the unification of Workers United and SEIU to embark on new initiatives to achieve together what they have done on their own in the past: to transform an entire industry. This agreement positions the unions to work together more closely, while also maintaining the autonomy and constitution of Workers United.
"SEIU and affiliates of Workers United have already begun working together through a vigorous campaign to organize food service workers. This revolutionary campaign recognized that workers in each union's core jurisdictions (building services, laundry and food services) were all being employed by the same multi-service companies. Coming together, we have organized nearly 20,000 workers in this industry in the last few years.
"This is the kind of success we will replicate. It is workers uniting, and becoming stronger together. This affiliation agreement lays out a framework for two unions to realize all that those four words can mean."
With 2 million members in Canada, the United States and Puerto Rico, SEIU is the fastest-growing union in the Americas. Focused on uniting workers in healthcare, public services and property services, SEIU members are winning better wages, healthcare and more secure jobs for our communities, while uniting their strength with their counterparts around the world to help ensure that workers--not just corporations and CEOs--benefit from today's global economy.
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